Cotton harvester



B. R. BENJAMIN Re. 20,633

COTTON HARVESTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 25, 1938.

Original Filed Oct. 11, 1928 B. R. BENJAMIN COTTON HARVESTER Jan. 25, 1938.

I Re. 20,633

Original Filed Oct. 11, 192's 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 wll Ll Jan. 25, 1938. R BENJAMIN Re. 20,633

COTTON HARVESTER Or iginal Filed Oct. 11, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Reiaued Jan. 25, 1938 20,683 co r'lon mutvas'rsa Bert a. Benjami Oak Park, In, desi ner to International Harvester Comp ny, a corporation of New Jersey Original No. 2,0113%, dated August 20, 1935, Serial No. 311,734, October 11, 1928. Applicatlon [or reissue July 1'1, 1937, Serial No. 154,303

26 claims. (CL 56-14) um'reo STATES PATENT orrics The present invention relatestoharvesting ma- Figure 1 is a plan view of an apparatus emchinery and is directed more particularly to imbodying the invention;

provements in self-propelled machines and to Figure 2 is a side view of the same; associations of cotton harvesting devices with a Figure 3 is a rear view of the apparatus illustractor or an exis'ting type. trated in the two previousiigures; I

The principal bbiect of the invention is to pro- Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section with vide a self-pro elled cotton ga ering or harvest- Darts mi taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1; ing machine, preferably of the spindle picker Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view of an adtype, which will work eiliciently on two rows of lusting lever for the cotton ga h i n t an i cotton plants at once while traveling at consid- Figure 6 is a similar detail view taken on the 10 erable speed, and which will be of light structure e, of F re 5- and easily controlled by a .single operator, A Asillustrating a preferred embodiment of the further object is to so relate the harvesting units invellltioll. there is herein disclosed 8- Iormine a to the supporting structure or tractor s to discarrier for the cotton harvesting units, a wide \5 t t th weight and working t n edventread tractor of the so-called tricycle type. This l tageously and also locate the harvesting units tractor comprises a narrow main frame 1 o within the treads oi the traction wheels, with II s pported at the rear on the transverse axle the front ends of the units adjacent the front s u r which nd a a y y d b th wheel or wheels oi the tractor so that the picksides of the frame Ill t p d W d y pa d ing mechanism will be in vi w from th oprear traction wheels II. The forward end 01. the erators station on the m hine during e atractor is supported on a steering truck l3, which tion, Still another object preferably has two closely positioned wheels which harvesting unit especially adapted for attachare located midway b ween t e two traction ment to the side of farm tractors, preferably of Wheels 12, the Wheel arrangement b g Sileh th tricycle t e, or th s n d row-crop" that the machine can straddle two rows of plants. types, and having provision for co t ith Between the side rails forming part of the main the power plant of the tractor, the supporti body ill of the tractor there is mounted a suitand driving elements !or the harvesting unit beable Power plant, engine. ll t0 the reel of ing such as to be easily attached t and 1 which are located the clutch, transmission, and

t e from t t t which therefore, differential housings. The axle structure ll 30 he of t general purpose ty capable of reeetvcontains differentially driven shafts which proihg tt ch t of th k ject beyond the axle structure at each end where These objects, as well as other objects a d they are provided with brake drums ii. The vantages which will appear upon further descripaxle structure also includes depending S ar houst of t apparatus, are tt thmugh ings it within which there is journaled a large vision 0! a machine characterized by a supportgear fixed to the spindle of the traction wheel ing or tractor structure having an-extended rear and driven by a Suitable P on .On One Of the .axle and traction wheel portion spanning two differential shafts contained in the axle structure. .rows, and a narrow, longitudinal body ortion The inner faces of the r h usin s 8 carry 4 supported ondlrlglble supporting means such as brackets l1 and Is to WhlCh is connected an a narrow tread dirigible truck at the front, runarched bar lg, 85 best S in Figure 8 1sning between adjacent rows, the body carrying P81151011 braces 20 secured to each arm Of the cotton gathering units at one or t id arched bar i9 and to the axle structure serve to pended at points approximately midway between supp the arched bar in rearwardlv d upthe axes of the front and rear supporting wheels. wardly extending position, as seen in Figures 2 45 These gatheriim units are floatingly suspended and Tlle forward end of the narrow longiand spaced away from the body and located withtudinalli'r ending body of the tractor is proin the tread lines of the traction wheels and are vlded h a OIOSShea-d preferably Consisting of a constructed to present the picking mechanism to sing e casting having a horizontally x n n in the rows of cotton plants only from the side transverse portion 2! provided with a central.

towards the machine body or tractor. p y extending, tubular P t on The invention accordingly resides in the or- T tubular p t 22 and the horizontal ganization and details of construction hereinafter portion 1| 0f the rosshead provide bearmore particularly described and claimed, and 11- 1 85 o the vertical Standard p e 3 0f lustrated in the accompanying drawings, where: the truck l3, which is thus made capable of turn- 2 ao,oas

ing or swiveling to steer the machine. The upflank the outer side of a row of cotton plants. per end of the tubular portion 32 has clamped Immediately opposite the open portion of the to it a bracket 24 carrying a short'shaft 25, on inner face of the housing there isprovided arewhich plnions 33 and 21 are fixed. The upper -sistance grate made up of a series of spring arms 5 end of the spindle 23 projects beyond the bracket 46 mounted on a depending shaft 41, an angular, 5 2| and has fixed to it a gear sector 23 in mesh horizontal portion 48 of which is fixed to the top with the pinion 21. The other pinion 23 is in of the housing 42 at its forward end. Preferably, mesh with a pinion 33 fixed on the forward end a second vertical shaft a located at the rear of a steering shaft ll extending to the rear of of the shaft 41, as illustrated on Fig. l, and de- 0 the tractor in proximity to the driver's station pending from a horizontal plate 43 secured to the or seat II, where it is, provided with a steering top of the housing is provided and carries short be communicated through pinions 26 and 2'! to serves as the point of attachment for a forwardly l5 either of the brake drums I5 is provided to assist to direct the plants towards the picking mecha short turning of the tractor. At the rear end of nism. The forward portion of the housing 42 is the body portion of the tractor a power take-oil provided with a corresponding deflecting shield 20 shaft 33 projects on a level below the transverse 52, and the two shields 5| and 52 together form an The supporting or tractor structure above de- 46, where they are operated upon by the picker 25 scribed carries a harvesting unit on one or spindles. The cotton picking mechanism within both sides, the illustration being of a two-row the housing is actuated or driven from the power machine. As the cotton harvesting unit at each plant of the tractor through a telescopic shaft side of the tractor is the same, the structure of 53 providediwith universal joints at either end only one of them will be described, it being unand connected to a vertical drive shaft in the 30 mitted from the power take-off shaft 33. Acnected by a sprocket chain 56 to a sprocket wheel cordingly, each side of the tractor has mounted 51 fixed on the power take-off shaft 33. The 35 thereon a longitudinally extending shaft 35, the forward end of the drive shaft 53 also serves to shaft 35 is journaled in a bracket 31 secured to at extending from the rear face of the housing 42. 40

secured to the axle structure. A second bearing 6| passing over an intermediate, double sprocket bracket 39 is secured to the side of the tractor 62 mounted on the conveyor housing and driving body and supports the forward end of the shaft a second sprocket chain 63 which connects with 35. Immediately forwardly of the bearing the upper shaft of the conveying mechanism in- 5 bracket 33 the shaft 35 is formed with an outdicated in dotted lines in Figure 2. The upwardly wardly, angularly extended portion 40, which is and rearwardly extending conveyor housing 60 wardly spaced therefrom. The re-bent portion terminates in a downwardly and rearwardly ex-l formed of sheet metal. The housing is connected. as it specifically forms no part of the present 55 purpose of so mounting the housing 42 is to procember 30, 1930. on

axes extending longitudinally of the tractor, operated with a stop arm 66 fixed on shaft 35 as 70 cylinder supported on a vertical shaft 44 joursition in the usual manner. The structure just 70 inner side of the housing being positioned to tain extent of vertical floating movement. To 75 assist in lifting the harvesting units, through rotation of shafts ll, the arm 38 on the rear end of a each shaft 35 is connected by means of a coil spring 10 with an abutment Ii secured to the arched bar I! at one side thereof.

In operation the machine is driven over the plant rowswith the rear wheels straddling two rows and the front truck wheels travelingin the spacebetween the two rows straddled. The housing enclosing the gathering unit, or units if two are used, is thus brought into ,position on the other side of the plant row which is received in the channel between the inner side of the housing and the resistance grate facing it. The-plants in the row are received between the diverging fenders, or deflecting walls, Sl-i! and the branches of the plants are gathered and gradu-- ally compressed and finally received between the inner face of the housing and the grate within the space intersected by the movement of the picker elements, which are projected, during operation, across the plant receiving channel.

It is to be noted that the manner of mounting and the location of the harvesting unit in the space between the tractor body and the traction wheel and of the picking mechanism on the outer side of the plant row are important features ,of the invention, as this permits location of a unit on each side of the tractor body in the same transverse lines and obviates interference between the units, or of the units with the tractor body and traction wheels, putting the picking mechanisms and the plant rows in direct view from the operators station on the tractor, who is thus able to raise or lower either unit and guide the machine more accurately through steering movements of the dirigible truck.

While the present disclosure contemplates combination of the harvesting units with an existing type of tractor and disconnection therefrom when desired, there is no limitation of the invention to detachable mounting, as the invention can obviously be embodied in a unitary machine. In its preferred form, however, the harvesting unit, or units, constitute attachments capable of detachable connection in a novel manner to farm tractors now in general use, the manner in which the attachment is constructed and adapted for such connection being part of the invention. The

invention, therefore, may be viewed from different aspects and is capable of different embodiments and modifications, as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. The combination with a tractor having a front steering truck, rear traction wheels spaced to span two plant rows and a narrow longitudinally extended body, of a row crop harvesting unit including upright housings located at each side of the body within the tread lines of the traction wheels, and means on the body between the axes of the front and rear wheels for suspending the housings in laterally spaced relation to the body.

2. The combination, with a tractor having a narrow longitudinally extended body supported at the front on a steering truck adapted to travel in the space between adjacent plant rows, of an outwardly projecting support connected to the side of the body, and cotton gathering mechanism comprising an upright housing suspended for transverse swinging movement from the outer portion of said support and positioned to overhang an adjacent plant row.

3. The combination with a tractor having a longitudinally extended body portion, of a supporting member extending along the body and having a laterally projecting extension on its forward end, means connecting said member to the body for rotative adjustment about a longitudinal axis, a cotton gathering device suspended from said lateral extension, and driving means connecting the gathering device with the power plant of the tractor.

4. The combination with a tractor having a longitudinally extended body portion, of a supporting shaft extending along the. body and having a laterally projecting extension on its forward end terminating in a second extension parallel withthe shaft, means for journaling the shaft on the tractor on a longitudinal axis, means. for adjusting the shaft on its axis including a lost motion connection between the shaft and the adjusting means, a cotton gathering device suspended for lateral swinging movement from said second extension, and driving means connecting the gathering device with the power plant of the tractor.

5. The combination with a tractor having a longitudinally extended body portion, of a supporting shaft extending along the body and having a laterally projecting extension on itsforward end terminating in a second extension parallel with the shaft, means for journaling the shaft on the tractor on a longitudinal axis, means for adjusting the shaft on its axis, a cotton gathering device suspended for lateral swinging movement from said second extension, and driving means connecting the gathering device with the power plant of the tractor.

6. The combination with a tractor having a longitudinally extended body portion, of a supporting shaft extending along the body and formed with a reversely bent portion at its forward end extending outwardly from the body, journal brackets on the side of the body in which said shaft is rotatively mounted, means for rotatively adjusting the shaft including a lost motion connection for allowing limited free oscillation of the shaft, a cotton gathering device suspended for lateral swinging movement from the end of the reversely bent portion of the shaft, anddriving means connecting the gathering device with the power plant of the tractor.

"I. A self-propelled cotton harvester comprising a narrow longitudinally extending body, a power plant mounted thereon, dirigible supporting means at the front end of said body, a transversely extended axle structure secured to the rear end of said body, traction wheels on the ends of said axle structure, a laterally extending support pivotally mounted on the body in advance .of the axle structure for adjustment in a vertical plane, means for adjusting said member, a housing pivotally suspended from said member, cotton gathering mechanism contained in said housing having gathering elements operating from the inner side of the housing, said inner side of the housing being positioned on a longitudinal plane extending between one side of the body and the tread line of the corresponding tractionwheel, and a driving connection between the power plant and the gathering mechanism.

8. A self-propelled cotton harvester comprising a narrow longitudinally extending body, a. power plant mounted thereon, dirigible supporting means at the front end of said body, a transversely extended axle structure secured to the rear end of said body, traction wheels on the ends of said axle structure, a support extending from one side of the body at a point between the 75 front supporting means and the rear axle struc ture, a depending housing pivoted'on said support on an axis extending longitudinally of the tractor, cotton gathering mechanism contained.

in said housing having gathering elements operating from the, inner side of the housing and across a longitudinally extending path extending between that side of the body and the tread line of the corresponding traction wheel, and a driving connection between the power plant and the gathering mechanism.

.9. A self-propelled cotton. harvester comprising a narrow longitudinallyextending body, a power, plant thereon, a narrow tread dirigible truck pivoted on a vertical axis to the forward end of said body, a transversely extended axle structure secured to the rear end of said body,

' traction wheels on the ends of the axle structure,

cotton gathering mechanism suspended from one side of the body comprising a housing spaced I outwardly from the body to aflord a rowcrop receiving space between the inner side of the housing and the vertical plane in which the side of the body lies, cotton gathering mechanism contained in said housing having gathering elements operating from, the inner side of the housing, a yieldable wall .supported opposite the inner side of the housing and therewith forming a plant row receiving channel, a forward extension on said wall enclosing a side of the truck and forming a plant deflecting means, and a driving connection between the power plant and gathering mechanism.

10. A self-propelled cottonharvester comprising a narrow longitudinally extending body, a power plant mounted thereon including a power take-off shaft projecting at the rear endof the body, dirigible supporting means at the front end of said body, a transversely extended axle structure supporting the rear end of the body, traction wheels on the ends of said axle structure, a

housing suspended from. each side of the body and located on transverse lines between the front supporting means and the rear axle structure,

cotton gathering mechanisms contained in said housings having. gathering elements operating from the inner sides of the respective housings and across longitudinally extending paths adjacent the opposite sides of the body, and driving connections between the power take-off at the rear of the body and each of the gathering mechanisms. I

11. T'he combination with a tractor of the type having rear wheels spaced to span two plant rows, of cotton gathering mechanism carried by the tractor at the side thereof and located in advance of the axis of the rear wheels and within the tread lines thereof, and means supporting said gathering mechanism on the tractor for movements vertically and transversely. 12. The combination with a tractor of the type having front steering support and. rear traction wheels spaced to span two plant rows, of cotton gathering mechanism carried by the tractor at the side thereof and located between the steering support and the traction wheels and within the tread lines of the tractionwheels, and means for pivotally suspending the gathering mechae nism for movement vertically and laterally about axes extending longitudinally of the tractor.

13. The combination with a tractor having a narrow longitudinally extended body, a rear axle structure spanning two plant rows and supported on traction wheels, a narrow tread dirigible truck supporting the front end of the body and a power mm.- C

take-oi! shaft'proiectm't longitudinally from the rear end of the body,- of ongitudinally extending supporting shafts mounted in hearings on each side of the body and extendlngfrom theaxle structure forwardly to a transverse line substantially midway between the axle and truck, 2. laterally extending arm on the forward end of each shaft, cotton gathering mechanism suspended from the end of each arm and positioned to flank the outer sides of plant rows spanned by the rear axle structure, driving connections between the power take-oifshaft and each gathering mechanism, and means on the tractor for rotatably adjusting the'shafts to lift and lower the gathering mechanisms including means permitting limited free oscillation of each shaft.

14. The combination-with a tractor having a longitudinally extended body portion and rear traction wheels, or a supporting member pivoted on the sideof the body portion for movement vertically and projecting laterally from the tractor body forward of the traction wheels, cotton gathering mechanism including a vertical housing pivoted to the supporting member on an axis parallel to. the tractor body, means for adjusting the elevation of the housing, and means for driving the gathering mechanism in all positions of the housing.

15. A tractor attachment comprising a shai't having a lateral extension constituting a supporting element, supports. for the shaft having'bearings in which thvshaft is iournaled at longitudinally spaced locations, said supports including means for securing them on the side of a tractor with the shaft extending longitudinally thereof, a cotton picking unit comprising a housing connected at its upper end to the end of the lateral extension on said shaft, and means on one of said supports for rotatively adjusting said shaft in its hearings on the supports.

16. A self-propelled cotton harvester comprising a narrow longitudinally extending body,

. dirigible supporting means at the front end of said body, a transversely extended axle structure supporting the rear end of the body, axle driving means, traction wheels on the ends of said axle structure, a housing suspended from each side of the body and located between the front supporting means and the rear axle structure, cotton gathering mechanism contained in said housings having gathering elements operating from the inner sides of the respective housings and across longitudinally extending paths adjacent the opposite sides of the body, and driving connections for the gathering mechanisms. I 17. A self-propelled cotton harvester comprising a narrow longitudinally extending body, a power plant thereon, a narrow tread dirigible truck pivoted on a vertical axis to the forward end of said body, a transversely extended axle structure secured to the rear end of said body. traction wheels on the ends of the axle structure, cotton gathering mechanism suspended from one side of the body comprising a housing spaced outwardly from the body to afford a row crop receiving space between the inner side of the housing and the vertical plane in which the side of the body lies, cotton gathering mechanism contained in said housing having gati ering elements operating from the inner side of the housing, a wall supported opposite the inner side of the housing and therewith forming a plant row receiving channel, a forward extension on said wall enclos ing a side of the truck and forming a plant defleeting means, and a driving connection between the power plant and gathering mechanism.

18. A harvesting machine comprising the combination of a tractor having a transversely extended rear axle structure supported on rear I wheels adapted to run on the outside of adjacent plant rows, a narrow body extending forwardly from the center of the axle structure, a front rolling support on the body adapted to run between the same rows, a laterally extended support on each side of the body in advance of the rear wheels, a forwardly located harvesting unit pivotally mounted on each of said supports between the sides of the body and the tread lines of the respective rear wheels and in position to harvest from adjacent plant rows. plant gathering means carried by the harvesting units, said gathering means being positioned with the forward ends thereof substantially in transverse alignment with the front rolling support, means located between the rear wheels for conveying the harvested crop rearwardly, and means on the tractor for individually adjusting the harvesting units vertically.

19. A harvesting machine comprising the combination of a tractor having a transversely extended rear axle structure supported on rear wheels adapted to run on the outside. of adjacent plant rows, a narrow body extending forwardly from the center of the axle structure, a front rolling support on the body adapted to run between the same rows, a laterally extended support on each side of the body in advance of the rear wheels, a harvesting unit pivotally mounted on each of said supports, crop gathering means carried by each harvesting unit and located between the sides of the body and the tread lines of the respectiverear wheels and in position to harvest from adjacent plant rows, said gathering means being positioned with the forward ends thereof substantially in transverse alignment with the front rolling support, and conveying means on each unit extending upwardly and rearwardly over the rear axle structure within the spaces between the tractor body and the respective rear wheels.

20. A harvesting machine comprising the combination of a tractor having a transversely extended rear axle structure supported on rear wheels adapted to run on the outside of adjacent plant rows, a narrow body extending forwardly of the center of the axle structure, a front rolling support on said body, a laterally extended support on each side of the tractor body, a harvesting unit mounted on each of the said supports for adjustment vertically, each unit comprising crop gathering means located forward of the rear wheels and conveying means extending rearwardly therefrom within the spaces between the respective rear wheels and the tractor body, and

means on the tractor for vertically adjusting the harvesting units.

21. In a cotton picker, a tractor, picking units detachably in connection with said tractor and individually outstanding therefrom at its opposite sides, supporting means carried by and outstanding from the tractor, hinged connections between said supporting means and said units whereby said units are permitted to swing toward and away from the tractor and at the same time prevented from swaying lengthwise of the tractor, and driving connections between the tractor and each of said picking units.

22. In a cotton picker, a tractor, picking units detachably in connection with said tractor and individually outstanding therefromat its opposite sides, supporting means carried by and outstanding from the tractor, and hinged connections between said supporting means and said units, said connections permitting the units to swing toward and away from the tractor and at the same time preventing the units from swaying lengthwise of the tractor.

23. In a cotton picker, a tractor, upwardly and laterally outstanding supporting brackets at opposite sides of said tractor, and picking units hingedly suspended in detachable relation from said brackets, the hinges permitting the units to swing toward and away from said tractor and at the same time preventing swaying of the units lengthwise of the tractor.

24. In a cotton picker, a tractor having side supports and laterally outstanding driven shafts, picking units detachably pivoted in pendulous connection with said supports to swing with respect thereto and maintain vertical positions at all times, and flexible driving connections between said units and said driven shafts, the pivoted connections of the units preventing lengthwise swaying thereof.

25. In a cotton picker, a tractor, a picking unit bodily supported'at the side of the tractor forwardly of its rear wheels, and a hinged connection between the unit and the support permitting the unit to swing with respect to the tractor laterally of the line of movement thereof and at the same time constrain the same from lengthwise swaying.

26. In a cotton picker, a tractor, picking units laterally'offset from, and horizontally alongside, said tractor and wholly within the lengthwise limits of the. tractor, and supports projecting laterally from the tractor and hingedly connected directly said picking units whereby the units are freel swingable laterally toward and away from the tractor to maintain vertical alinement at all times, and at the same time prevented from swaying lengthwise.

BERT a BENJAMIN. 

